Writing surface rotatably attached to a steering wheel

ABSTRACT

A rotating writing surface attached to a steering wheel by a rotating means and off center weight such that the writing surface remains in the plumb position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Writing on a typical clipboard attached to a steering wheel whilesteering has its inherent problems due the fact that the clipboardrotates with the steering wheel.

Golf cart clipboards are a typical example of a clipboard rigidly fixedto a steering wheel. The difficulties associated with a golf cartclipboard that rotates with the steering wheel are players need scorequickly to advance to the next avoiding delay and possible injury fromincoming balls from players that follow. Since the clipboard needs to bein the vertical orientation in order for a player to score easily it isnecessary to make sure that the steering wheel is rotated in such a waythat the clipboard is in the vertical position. This allows for viewingand scoring on the scorecard immediately which is desired.

Players traveling to the next hole often need to refer to the clipboardwith the score card located on it in order to evaluate their score, lookfor yardage and view the layout of the golf course. Since the golf cartrarely travels in a straight-line and scoring on the current clipboardthat is rotating on the same plane as the steering wheel, it isdifficult or impossible and often dangerous to try and look at the scorecard while the golf cart is in motion. Even the passenger, who is notdriving, would find looking at the golf score card attached to a fixedclipboard impossible to read while the golf cart is in motion.

Further, the scorecard often becomes bent after flipping back and forthin the wind as the clipboard rotates with the steering wheel. Thisrotation of the clipboard and the scorecard attached to it results thescorecard being prone to dislodging itself from the clip on theclipboard.

Another problem of existing golf cart clipboards is the golf pencil usedfor scoring is placed in a horizontal aperture within the golf cartclipboard itself. However, the aperture is only horizontal as long asthe golf cartwheels are positioned straight ahead. Once the driverrotates the golf cart's steering wheel the pencil holder rotates withit. As the aperture rotates to a position where it is facing straightdown or less than horizontal it is very common for the golf pencil tofall out. This makes it difficult and frustrating to keep score. Sincemost golfers are aware of the tendency for the golf pencil to fall outthey often bring several pencils with them in case one falls out causingmany pencils to be wasted and an added expense to the golf courseowners. Pencils and scorecards are easily lost, ran over or depending onthe weather, damaged due to the rotation of the clipboard causinginaccurate scoring and frustration

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Directed to remedying the problems in and limitations of the prior art,and meets the foregoing needs, disclosed herein are improved methods andassemblies for rotatable clipboards attached to a steering wheel.

The rotatable clipboard could be available on new cart as an integratedpart of the steering wheel or retrofitted to existing golf cart'ssteering wheels by attaching it The rotatable clipboard could be easilyremoved and attached with proper detailed instructions.

The method for creating a rotatable clipboard attached to a steeringwheel is by attaching the clipboard to a the steering wheel with abearing. The clipboard is preferably made by injection molding a plasticclipboard with the appropriate dimensions and then attaching a clipmechanism to hold the material to be written or viewed. Standard clipsfor the clipboard are constructed with a tension mechanism to hold thematerial for viewing or writing on the clipboard. The tension mechanismallows the paper to be releasable held onto the clipboard. Releasing thematerial from the clip is accomplished by applying pressure to the clipto release the material from the clip on the clipboard.

A rotatable clipboard would be thin enough as not to hinder steering andsafety. The design would be fiat and rigid. The clipboard could be madefrom metal and/or plastic materials fabricated using standard moldingdesign practices incorporating ribs for durability and rigidity.

In order for the clipboard to rotate independently of the steering wheelan inexpensive sealed bearing is attached between the clipboard and thesteering wheel. A bolt and nut are then used to secure the bearingbetween the clipboard and steering wheel base plant by placing the boltthrough a aperture in the center of the clipboard, through the center ofthe bearing located between the clipboard steering wheel base plate andfinally through a aperture in the center of the steering wheel baseplate. A nut is then attached and tightened to the bolt in order tosecure the clipboard, bearing and base plate together.

Further, a weight is the secured to the bottom of the clipboard in orderto orient the rotatable clipboard in a plumb or vertical position at alltimes. As a result, the clipboard maintains a vertical or plumb positionindependent of the position of the steering wheel.

Further, the rotatable surface of the present invention can also beutilized as a writing surface or for any other conceivable function thatwould prove to be convenient to a user

Embodiments of the present invention include 6 inch diameter clipboardsattached with a rotating means to a golf cart steering wheel for writingon detailed 24 page golf scoring booklet.

Embodiments of the present invention also include methods for attachinga board to a steering wheel with a rotating mechanism.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description andthe accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a steering wheel with a clipboard attached to thesteering wheel.

FIG. 2 is a elevated view showing a fixed clipboard attached to thesteering wheel in a rotated position.

FIG. 3 is an elevated view of a rotatable clipboard in the verticalposition relative to a steering wheel which has been rotatedapproximately 45 degrees.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the pieces of a rotatable clipboard baseplate and steering wheel.

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross section of the rotating means for attaching arotatable clipboard to a steering wheel.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golf cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention describes a rotatable clipboard 9 that is securedto the steering wheel 11 as shown in FIG. 3 which allows the scorecardto maintain a fixed position relative to the golf cart 38. Conventionalclipboards 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are fixed to the steering wheel3 through a series or clips, screws or bolts and remain in the preferredvertical position only as long as the steering wheel 3 remains in thevertical, or upright position. This is a result of the the clipboard 1maintaining a fixed position relative to the steering wheel 3. As shownin FIG. 2, once the steering wheel 3 begins to rotate and is no longervertical, the clipboard position 1 is now in a non-vertical position asshown in FIG. 2 since it is fixed in position relative to the steeringwheel 3 which is in the non-vertical position.

A non limiting example of the preferred embodiment of the rotatableclipboard is a flat circular plastic injection moulded polypropyleneclipboard 9 as shown in FIG. 3. The clipboard further contains anattachment means 12 for temporarily attaching articles to the clipboard.The attachement means preferably can bind a plurality of sheets in orderto secure a score card containing a plurality of sheets.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the preferred means of attaching arotatable clipboard 19 by means of a bolt 17 through the center aperture20 of a clipboard 19 and then through an aperture in the bearing 18which is located between the clipboard 19 and the base plate 16 and thensecured together by a nut 22 screwed onto the screw 17 securing theclipboard 19, bearing 18 and base plate 16 together.

Other nonlimmiting means of attaching the clipboard to the base plateare a plurality of bearings, bolts and nuts, pressure sensitiveadhesives, hot melt adhesives and epoxy resins. Further the clipboardmay be attached by a simple metal rod between the steering wheel baseplate and the clipboard. The clipboard may further contain a nylonsleeve in order to facilitate rotation of the clipboard independent ofthe steering wheel base plate. In addition, the clipboard can bereleasably attached to the base plate of the steering wheel usingremovable adhesive, Velcro, screws or clips.

In the preferred embodiment the clipboard has sealed ball bearing 18 torotatably attach the clipboard to the steering wheel base plate as shownin the FIG. 5 detailed cross sectional view of the bearing mechanism.The sealed bearing 18 preferably has the dimensions of ¼ inch insidediameter, ¾ inch outside diameter and ¼ inch height A sealed bearingwith these characteristics is commercially available from many sources.One source for these bearings on the West coast is US Bearings locatedin Vancouver Wash. The bearing 18 is located between the base plate 19and the preferred embodiment of the bearing position relative to thebase plate 16 and the clipboard 19 so that the inner portion of thebearing 33 rests on ledges 30 and the outer part of the bearing rests onthe ledges 31 of the base plate 16. This allows the inner part 33 of thebearing attached to the clipboard 19 to rotate independently from theouter part 34 of the bearing attached to the base plate 16. A ¼ inchthread by 1.5 inch long hex head bolt 25 goes through the aperture 20located in the center of the clipboard 19, through the center of thebearing aperture 37 and through the base plate aperture 32. The ¼ inchthread hex head nut 29 attaches the bolt 25 securing the clipboard 19,bearing 18 and the base plate 16 securely together. A washer 36 with aninner diameter of ¼ inch and out diameter of ⅜ of an inch is locatedbetween the nut 29 and the bearing inner surface 30 such that the nut 36securely transfers the nut force only to the inner surface of thebearing 33. This allows the inner surface 33 and outer surface 34 torotate independently. Further, it is necessary to screw the nut 29 tightagainst the bearing surface with sufficient tension to hold theclipboard 27 tightly against the steering wheel base plate 28 with thebearing located between allowing the two surfaces to rotateindependently of each other. A four ounce steel weight 35 of thedimensions 2 inches long by ½ inch wide by ⅛ inch thick is attached atthe bottom center of the clipboard 19 by a thermoplasic adhesive inorder to keep the clipboard in the preferred plumb position. Othernonlimmiting examples of weights include plastic, lead, nickel, copperand glass. In addition, the weight may be co-molded directly into theclipboard or the clipboard itself may contain extra plastic at thebottom to create an off-center effect. Further the clipboard itself canbe attached off-center to the steering wheel in order to maintain aplumb position. Additional non limiting examples of attaching the weight35 are pressure sensitive adhesives, Velcro, heat staking, rivets,screws and epoxies.

FIG. 6 shows a typical golf cart 39 in which the preferred emobidment ofthe rotating clipboard would be attached to the steering wheel 38.

In an alternative embodiment the bearing is up to 3 inches wide and upto 1 inch in height with an inner diameter of up to 2 inches. Furtherthe rotatable clipboard may contain a plurality of bearings. In additionthe bearing may also be of the open type, a bushing, a cylinder,viscoelastic couplings or magnetic bearing. Further, the clipboardrotation device can be part of the steering wheel or the clipboard.

In an alternative embodiment the rotatable clipboard has a means forrestricting the motion of the clipboard relative to the steering wheel.Allowing the rotatable clipboard to rotate with the steering wheel ifdesired. A non limiting example of a restricting means is a pin placedin a aperture in the clipboard and into a corresponding aperture in thesteering wheel to restrict the motion of the clipboard.

In an alternative embodiment the rotating clipboard incorporateselectronic devices such as calculators, PDA, GPS, computers, printers,cell phones and golf scoring devices. Further the clipboard canincorporate means to hold golf tees, golf gloves, cup holders, stickers,notepads, tools, pens, maps and advertisements.

In an another alternative embodiment the clipboard surface may includeanti-slip coatings to improve the adhesion of the scorecard to theclipboard surface. Non limiting examples of non slip coatings areadhesives, textured, and particle embedding.

In another embodiment of the invention is a method for attaching awriting surface to a steering wheel with a rotating mechanism.Nonlimmiting examples of a rotating mechanism are bearings, rods, andshafts. Nonlimmiting exampels of writing surfaces are clipboards,plastic surfaces, wood surfaces and electronic devices.

In alternative embodiment, the clipboard would also accommodate writinginstruments (pens or course's standard issued short pencils) forrecording information. Specific attachments means include apertures,clips, magnets. The rotatable clipboard preferentially has a aperturefor placing the pencil such that it is slightly larger than the diameterof the pencil and positioned at a 45 degree angle to ensure the pencildoes not fall out. One limitation of the current clipboards is theirhorizontal apertures for holding the golf pencils. As one rotates thesteering wheel of the today's golf cart the clipboard rotates with it.This causes the horizontal pencil holder to rotate with the golf cartsteering wheel. Thus as the pencil rotates to a non horizontal positionthe golf pencils easily fall out of the clipboard. The present inventionsolves this problem by maintaining a vertical position with respect tothe golf cart that correspondingly maintains the pencil holder at avertical position with respect to the golf cart.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention

1. A method of adhering a writing surface to a steering wheel by a rotatable attachment means, wherein the adhered writing surface rotates independently of the steering wheel and remains in the plumb position.
 2. The improvement in claim 1, wherein said writing surface is a clipboard.
 3. The improvement in claim 1, wherein said writing surface contains a calculator.
 4. The improvement in claim 1, wherein said writing surface contains a electronic scoring means.
 5. The improvement in claim 1, wherein said rotatable attachment means is a sealed bearing.
 6. The improvement in claim 1, wherein said writing surface is weighted to maintain a plumb orientation.
 7. A surface rotatably attached to a steering wheel such that said surface is weighted to maintain a plumb orientation.
 8. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is a clipboard.
 9. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is rotatably attached to said steering wheel by a bearing.
 10. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is rotatably attached to said steering wheel by a plurality of bearings.
 11. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is weighted on the bottom half by a metallic weight.
 12. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said rotatable surface temporarily fixed in position relative to the steering wheel.
 13. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is comprised of polypropylene.
 14. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is attached to said steering wheel by a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 15. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is attached to said steering wheel by removing the existing non-rotating clipboard and re-attaching said rotating surface using the existing attachment means located on the steering wheel.
 16. The improvement to claim 7, wherein said surface is releasable attached to said steering wheel.
 17. A plastic off center weighted clipboard rotatably attached by a bearing to a golf cart steering wheel.
 18. The improvement to claim 17, wherein said bearing is a stainless steel sealed bearing.
 19. The improvement to claim 17, wherein said plastic is polypropylene.
 20. A method of maintaining a surface attached to a steering wheel in the plumb position.
 21. The improvement to claim 20, wherein said surface is a clipboard.
 22. The improvement to claim 20, wherein said steering wheel is a golf cart steering wheel.
 23. A rotating assembly, comprising: a plastic writing surface; a paper sheet retention mechanism; a steering wheel; an attachment means for attaching said writing surface to said steering wheel; an attachment means for attaching a writing instrument to said clipboard; a rotating mechanism for allowing said writing surface to rotate independently of said steering wheel; and an off-center weight. 